Report by Andrew Dela Plana

Scientia is the official student publication of the College of Science (CS). Since its establishment in 1988, the publication has been institutionally recognized by the college and continues to receive full support from the CS admin. 

However, Scientia faced a period of inactivity during the pandemic. Now in its second active year following its reactivation, the publication continues to face organizational and internal difficulties resulting from the hiatus.

The publication traditionally covers issues in science, technology and the environmental sector at both the university-wide and national levels. However, difficulties in internal consolidation and funding have affected its ability to consistently produce releases during its revival phase. 

While Scientia has a trust fund containing around P2 million sourced from collecting a P28 student publication fee from each CS student, the account remains inaccessible due to turnover issues, according to outgoing editor-in-chief Zera Caldit. 

The lack of on-hand funds, proper equipment and a conducive student publication office has also prevented the publication from sustaining its operations smoothly in its first year of reactivation.

In the past year, Scientia has covered mobilizations such as the September 21 anti-corruption protests and the mobilizations about Toboso 19, most of which were flooded by online trolls. Some staffers were also tear-gassed during the September 21 protests, a concern that pushed the publication to further normalize pre-deployment briefings and post-coverage assessments.

Despite the internal difficulties Scientia has faced, the publication currently has 33 active staffers in its newsroom.

“At least this semester, ‘yung pag-secure ng finances [na lang] talaga ‘yung main na ginagaod para ma-fund yung pag-produce ng magazine and [para] makasali kami sa mga events like sa org fairs,” Caldit said.